A highly anticipated Bellator MMA title fight between welterweight champion Douglas Lima and Rory MacDonald has been booked for Jan. 20 in Los Angeles.
Bellator officials confirmed the 170-pound matchup on Wednesday, following a report by the Los Angeles Times. The fight will take place at The Forum.
A former UFC title challenger, MacDonald (19-4), 28, became one of the most significant free-agent acquisitions in Bellator history when he signed a multifight deal in August 2016.
Fighting out of British Columbia, he compiled an 8-4 record in the UFC and holds a 2014 win over its current champion in Tyron Woodley. In his Bellator debut in May, MacDonald submitted Paul Daley
He'll face a very legitimate challenge in Lima (29-6), who is coming off a five-round title defense against Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 180 in June. The Brazilian welterweight has won eight of his last nine contests.
ESPN ranks MacDonald and Lima the Nos. 5 and 7 welterweights in the world, respectively. On paper, this is arguably one of the best championship matchups in Bellator history.